Sheet feeding apparatus



May 21, 1940. E. R. KAST Y SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Shed 1 3 wan 8 luflmu X g t v WH L m 3 ,./v\ i mm F m m n. m p 8 mm INVENTOR by EDWARD R. KAST ATTORNEY- M Y L E. R. KAST 2,201,539

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS I Fig. 2

INVENTOR EDWARD R. KAST ATTORNEY y 1940- EQR. KAs'r sannr FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-heet s INVENTOR YEDWARD R. KAST B ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1940 SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Edward R. Kast, Pearl River, N. Y., assignor to Dexter Folder Company, Pearl River, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 11,1938, Serial No. 224,237

4 Claims. (Cl. 271-46) This invention relates to sheet feeders for feeding sheets to printing presses or other machines sheet of the stream.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeder for advancing a stream vof lapped sheets to a printing press or other instrumentality and having novel means for preventing sliding movement of the sheets relative to each otherand thereby insuring delivery of each sheet at the proper time to the front stops or registering devices of the printing press.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeder for advancing a stream of lapped sheets to a printing press or other instrumentality and having improved meansfor straightening each sheet of the stream before delivery thereof to the front stops or registering devices of the printing press.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand said invention reference may he had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a sheet feeder embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said feeder with parts omitted for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a sheet engaging hook and mounting therefor shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4-is an enlarged top plan view of the sheet engaging hook shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the sheet engaging hook looking from the right of Figs. 3 and 4; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing diagrammatically the manner in which the sheets are separated and forwarded in lapped relation from a pile, and the action of the sheet engaging hooks on a stream of lapped sheets. 7

Referring to the drawings, -wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 indicates part of the frame of a feeder which is supported by upright posts or standards 6 and includes a pile elevator comprising a pile board 1 adapted to support a pile of sheets 8. The pile board 1 and pile of sheets 8 thereon are raised intermittently in the usual manner, to keep the top of said pile at a prede- D termined level, by chains 9 the links of which engage in the teeth of sheaves ID that are fixed on shafts I I journalled in suitable bearings on feeder frame 5. The shafts II are driven from any suitable source of power by gearing connected therewith and including worm wheels l2 fixed on shafts I l.

The sheets of pile 8 are separated one after another from the top of the pile by suction separating devices l3, indicated diagrammatically in Fig 6 of the drawings, which are adapted to engage opposite rear corners of each successive sheet and lift the rear edge thereof above the level of the-pile. Prior to release of the separated and lifted sheets by the suction separating devices I3, said sheets are engaged at the rear thereof by suction forward devices M (Fig. 6) which forward the sheets, when released by the 'suction separating devices l3, a short distance from the pile in lapped relation one under another, as illustrated in Fig. 6 to conveying means that are continuously driven at slow speed to enable lapping of the sheets thereon. This con- 30 veying means advances the lapped sheets to a printing press or other instrumentality with which the feeder is associated, and as herein shown, is preferably constructed and operated as follows. c c 0 Extending transversely of the feeder and journailed .in suitable hearings in the feeder frame'5 is a feed roller I 5 around which passes a series of conveyor tapes l6 that also pass around a transversely extending roller 11 journalled in suitable bearings in front end frames Ill. The upper reaches of the tapes l6 pass over a roller l9 journalled in suitable hearings in the feeder frame 5,..also over a forwardly and downwardly extending feed board 20 which is suitably supported at opposite ends thereof on the feeder frame 5 and front end frames I8, respectively. The lower reaches of tapes l6 pass under suitable tape tightening rollers 2| carried by the feeder frame 5. Cooperating with the feed roller l5 are pressure rollers 22 journalled on arms 23 which are adjustably secured on a shaft 24 that extends transversely of the feeder and is fixed in the feeder frame 5.

The slow speed drive for the feed roller I5 and tapes I6 is preferably effected from a single revolution or cam shaft 25 which extends transversely of the feeder and is journalled in suitable bearings in the feeder frame 5. This cam shaft 25 is connected in any suitable manner with, and driven by, the printing press or other machine to be fed, and is also utilized, through the medium of suitable mechanism (not shown), to impart motion to the sheet separating and forwarding devices I3, I 4 respectively for separating and forwarding the sheets one after another in lapped relation between the feed and pressure rollers I5, 22, resmctively. Fixedon the cam shaft 25 is a spur gear 26 which meshes with a similar gear 21 that is journalled on a stud 28 fixed in any suitable manner on the feeder frame 5. Secured to or formed integrally with the spur gear 21 is a similar gear 29 which meshes with a spur pinion 30 that is joumalled in any suitable manner on the feeder frame 5. The spur pinion 30 meshes with a similar pinion 3| that is fixed on the feed roller l5 and, which through the described driving connections therefor with the cam shaft .25 drives the feed roller I 5 and conveyor tapes l6 at a slow speed to enable lapping of the sheets thereon.

The front end frames l8 support front end mechanism including front and side registering devices hereinafter referred to. These front end frames l8 are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the frames 32 of the printing press or other machine to which the sheets are fed.

frame 5 and front end frames I8 respectively.

The front end frames l8 are connected together by stay shafts 34, 35,36 and 31.

In accordance with the present invention the sheet feeder is provided with. means for straightening each sheet of the stream 'of sheets during movement thereof on the conveyor; for preventing sliding movement of the sheets on the conveyor relative to each other; for maintaining a definite predetermined amount of lap between the sheets of the stream on the conveyor; and for thereby insuring delivery of each sheet. at the proper time and in proper straightenedcondition to the front stops or registering devices of the printing press or other machine with which the feeder is associated. Said means are preferably mounted, constructed and operated as follows.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the tie bars 33 are brackets 38 which, in turn, have adjustably. secured thereto, as by bolts 39, brackets 48. Extending transversely of the conveyor beneath the feed board 20 and the upper reaches of any suitable manner inarms45 which are se-' The upper tapes I6 is ashaft 4| which is'journalled in suitable bearings in the brackets 40. Fixed on and spaced along shaft 4| are two sprockets 42 around which pass' chains 43 that also. pass around sprockets 44 at the forward-endof the conveyor. Sprockets 44 are journalled on pins 45 secured in cured-to the stayshafts 35 and, 31. reaches of the chains 43gpass through longitudie nally extending slots or openings 41 in the feed 'board 20 and grooves 48 formed in the tape roller l1, and are guided on track bars 49 which are suitably supported at opposite ends thereof on the feed board 2|) and stay shaft 36, respectively.

Each chain 43 is provided 'at intervals therealong with a plurality of sheet engaging hooks indicated broadly at 50 and spaced apart so that the distance between the hooks is equal to the 53 inserted in opposite ends thereof. .Pivotallyconnected with one of the pins 52 of members 5| are other U-shaped members 54 which also engage over thechalns 43 and are connected therewith by pins 55 that pass through said members and other correspondinglinks of said chains. Endwise displacement of pins 55 is prevented by cotter pins 56 inserted in opposite ends thereof. Each of the U-shaped members 55 is provided with a sheet engaging abutment 51 which extends slightly above the tapes I 5 through the slots 41 in feed board 20, and a cover portion 55 for guiding the front edge of the sheet into engagement therewith. v

V The chains. 43 and sheet e g books 55 thereon are continuously driven at a surface speed slightly slower thanthe surface speed of the tapes It so that the sheets will be advanced into engagement with said hooks by thefaster moving tapes l6 which will then slip relative to said sheets and hold the latter in contactwith the hooks throughout. the forward movement of said tapes and chains.' This slower speed drive for the chains 43 'is, 1ike the slow speed drive for the tapes l6,

effected in the following manner from the single revolution or cam shaft 25 so that for each revolution of said shaft and for each sheet forwarded from the pile in lapped relation with a preceding sheet a pair of transversely alined sheet engaging hooks 50 will be in proper position to receive the 7 sheets.

Secured to or formed inte rally with the spur gear 26 is a similar gear 59 which'meshes with a spur gear 60 that is journalled on the shaft 24. Secured to or formed integrallywith the. spur gear 50 is a sprocket 5| around which passes a chain 52 that passes around a sprocket 63 that is I fixed on the shaft 4|. The upperreach of the chain '52 passes under a suitable chain tightening sprocket 64 journalled on an arm 55 that is adjustably secured on a bearing pin 56 for one end of the tape roller 19. It will thus appear that due to the difference in surface speed between the tapes l5 and chains 43 each succeeding lapped sheet after the rear edge thereof passes from be-' tween the feed and pressure rollers l5 and 22, respectively, will be advanced by the faster moving tapes It a short distancerelative to a preceding lapped and hooked sheet, until the forward edge of the sheet engages the following pair of transversel'y alined hooks 55 and is straightened thereagainst. At this time the tapes l5 will slip relative to the sheet and hold the latter in engagement with the hooks 50 during forward movement thereof imparted thereto by saidtapes and until it is released by said hooks whichfoccurs at the time the hooks pass around the sprockets 44' and away from said sheet. It will further appear that engagement of the lapped sheets with thehooks 55 which, as previously described are spaced a predetermined distance apart, establishes and maintains a definite amount of underlap between each sheet-of the streamas indicated r n tically in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and also prevents sliding movement of the sheets relative to each other thereby insuring delivery. of each sheet at the proper time to front stops or registering devices 51 of the printing press or other machine with which the feeder is associated.

After the leading sheet of the stream is released by the hooks 50, said sheet is advanced a short distance by the moving stream of lapped sheets into engagement with the front stops or registering devices 61 to be front registered.

Movement of the leading sheet the short distance into engagement with the front stop or registering device 61, as well as the movement of the remaining sheets of the stream along the conveyor is insured by a plurality of spring pressed rider wheels 68 which are spaced along a plurality of top rods 69 extending longitudinally of the feed board 20 above the driven tapes I 6 and serving to prevent displacement of the sheets therefrom. These top rods 69 are adjustably secured in brackets 10 which are clamped, as by thumb screws 1|, to the stay shaft 34. The rider wheels 88 at the front end of the conveyor hold the leading sheet against displacement when released by the hooks 50 until the forward edge thereof engages the front stops or registering devices 61.

The front stops or registering devices 61 are carried on arms 12 which are secured in any suitable manner on a rock shaft 13 extending transversely of the front end mechanism and journalled in suitable bearings in the front end frames l8. The shaft 13 is oscillated from the press or other machine by suitable means (not shown) to move the front stops or registering devices 61 into and out of the path of the sheet at proper intervals. The front portions of the sheets during their movement from the tapes I6 to the front stops or registering devices 61 are supported by spaced tongues 14 which are secured in any suitable manner on the stay shaft 36.

After the forward edge of the sheet has been accurately positioned against the front stops or registering devices 61, said sheet is moved laterally to side register the same with respect to the press or other machine by a side registering device indicated broadly at 15. The mounting, construction and operation of the side registering device is preferably the same as the mounting, construction and operation of the side registering devices disclosed in the application of Edwin W. Goodwin, Serial No. 62,706, filed February 6, 1936 and needs no detail description herein. After the sheet has been side registered, the front stops or registering devices 61 are moved downwardly out of the path of the sheet and said sheet is engaged at the forward end thereof by transfer grippers 1B or other'devices and drawn from the conveyor into the printing press or other machine to be further acted upon.

The operation of a feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description and while said description and the accompanying drawings set forth with more or less particularity one embodiment of the invention, it is to be expressly understood that said invention is not limited to said embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sheet feeding apparatus, a conveyor including a plurality of tapes for advancing a stream of lapped sheets toward a machine to be fed, means for driving said tapes at a slow speed, a plurality of transversely spaced chains extendingalong the tapes and having series of sheet engaging members spaced a predetermined distance apart, said chains and said tapes being arranged in the same plane beneath the stream of lapped sheets and said sheet engaging members projecting upwardly from the chains and traveling therewith in the same direction as the tapes, and means for driving said chains and sheet engaging members at a speed slower than the speed of the tapes whereby each sheet of the stream while being advanced by the tapes is moved thereby into engagement with said members and held thereagainst during forward movement of said sheets imparted thereto by said tapes.

2. In a sheet feeding apparatus, a feed board, a plurality of tapes for advancing a stream of lapped sheets over the feed board, means for driving said tapes at a slow speed, a plurality of chains extending along the tapes and arranged beneath the feed board, a plurality of. sheet engaging hooks carried by the chains at corresponding positions thereon and spaced equal distances apart along the chains, and means for driving said chains at a speed slower than the speed of the tapes whereby each sheet of the stream is moved by the tapes into engagement with corresponding hooks on the chains and held against said hooks while being advanced by said tapes.

3. In a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a printing press, the combination with a continuously driven slow moving endless conveyor for advancing a stream of the lapped sheets toward the front registering devices of the printing press, of means for establishing and. maintaining a. definite amount of'lap between adjacent sheets of the moving stream and for insuring presentation of the leading sheet of the stream to said front registering devices with said definite amount of overlap maintained relative to the succeeding sheet, said last named means comprising continuously driven slower moving endless means extending along the conveyor toward the front registering devices and in the same plane with the conveyor, and sheet engaging elements carried by said endless means and spaced therealong equal distances apart, said conveyor acting to impart relative movement to the lapped sheets and to engage the leading edges of successive lapped sheets with successive elements of said slower moving endless means.

4. In a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets in lapped relation to a printing press, the combination with a continuously driven slow moving endless conveyor for advancing a stream of the lapped sheets toward the front registering devices of the printing press, of means for straining each sheet of the moving stream, for preventing sliding movement of the straightened sheets relative to each other during movement imparted thereto by the conveyor, and for insuring delivery of each sheet at the proper time to said front registering devices and in straightened condition, said last named means comprising continuously driven slower moving endless means extending along the conveyor toward the front registering devices and in the same plane with the conveyor, and pairs of laterally spaced sheet engaging elements carried by said endless means and spaced therealong equal distances apart, said conveyor acting to impart relative movement to the lapped sheets and to engage and hold the leading edges of successive lapped sheets in contact with successive pairs of elements of said slower moving endless means.

' EDWARD R. KAST.

, CERTIFICATE OF conmizcnon. Patent No. 2,201,559. may 21, 191w. Y EDWARD R. mssr.

It is hereb certified that error e eere in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5; second column, line 57, claim It, for the word "straining" read -striiightening--; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may confom to the reo'ord of the case in the Patent Office.

igned and sealed this 12th day ofi Novanber, A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

